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Leyland: Dotel 'great' despite suffering defeat

Leyland: Dotel 'great' despite suffering defeat

Octavio Dotel

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ANAHEIM -- Despite Octavio Dotel giving up the winning run in the ninth inning against the Angels Friday night, Tigers manager Jim Leyland was impressed by the reliever's stuff.

The veteran had not allowed a run in his previous seven innings pitched and he had given up only five runs in 28 innings dating back to June 27. Dotel has not given up a run in 40 of his 50 outings this season, but against the Angels, a single by Kendrys Morales up the middle, a soft infield hit to third by Erick Aybar and a single by Alberto Callaspo through the left side earned Dotel his first loss since May.

"Octavio threw the ball great," Leyland said. "He got the little nubber and the guy came up with a hit that we didn't."

The righty was roughed up a couple times in May and June, but he was then lights out for the most part until Friday night.

Catcher Alex Avila said the hit by Callaspo with two outs ran back over the plate to allow the pinch-hitter to get good wood on the ball.

"I'm sure he'll probably want that one back, but it was still a pretty good pitch," Avila said.